Web roll controlling device for printing machines



H. V. BALL July 6, 1937.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1954 INVENTOR H. V. BALL July 6, 1937.

WEB ROLL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 7, 1934 3 Sheets--Sheet 2 H. V. BALL July 6, 1937.

WEB ROLL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5i INVENTOR.

Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEB ROLL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES tion of New York Application December 7, 1934, Serial No. 756,450

14 Claims. (Cl. 242-75) This invention relates to braking devices for controlling the unwinding of web rolls, the webs of which are fed to printing machines, and more particularly to an improved means for applying a pressure or braking action to the peripheral surface of a web roll along with means to automatically vary said pressurein response to variations in tension in the running web.

The said device is an improved structure over that disclosed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 701,618 and generally comprises a driven belt, supported by means of a pivotally mounted support member, which is connected through a reduction leverage to one end of a lever member, fulcrumed at a point between its ends, and is adapted to be rocked by a rocking action which is imparted to the lever member in response to any variation in tension of the running web. The rocking action is imparted to the lever member by means of a weight mounted thereon which is moved by the rocking movement of a pivotally mounted member to which it is connected. The pivotally mounted member is rocked by the movement of a floating roller which runs in a loop in the running web as changes in its position occur in response to changes in tension of the running web. The arrangement is such, that as the tension of the running web becomes taut, the floating roller will be pulled upward by the web and cause the weight to be moved outward on the lever member to thus rock the lever in a direction which will cause the belt supporting member to be raised and decrease the pressure of the belt on the web roll. Also as the tension of the running web becomes slack, the floating roll will move downward and cause the weight to be moved inward, to thus permit the support to move downward and increase the pressure of the belt on the web roll.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a braking member operable upon the peripheral surface of a web roll carried in a. rotatable support adapted to carry a plurality of web rolls, whose braking eifect is varied in response to changes in the tension of the running web.

Another object is to provide a reducing leverage connection between the braking member and a brake actuating member to thereby permit the operation of the braking member with comparatively light force.

Another objectis to provide an adjustable compensating member which is adapted to cooperate with the braking mechanism in providing the desired balance between the operating parts when rolls of varying length are used.

It is also an object to provide a braking mechanism for web rolls which is arranged in a close compact relation and is of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts,and in the details of construction hereinafter described.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a web r011 supporting device, having a running web roll and replacement rolls supported thereon, and showing a braking member applied to the running roll with the brake operating mechanism in a position when tension on the running web is greater than the normal tension and the braking pressure of the braking member is decreased;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 on an enlarged scale and showing the brake operating mechanism in a position when the tension on the running web is normal; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 2, taken along the line 3-3 and in the direction of the arrow 3 of said Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, a web roll support H is shown rotatably mounted on suitable brackets l3 extending from standards I4 which support the printing machine frame, a portion of which frame is indicated at I5. Web rolls i6, are rotatably mounted on said supports ll, one of said rolls, the upper roll shown in the drawings, being the running roll and having its web led therefrom over suitably supported guide rollers I1 and running in the direction indicated by the arrows.

A brake mechanism is provided to supply a braking pressure upon the peripheral surface of the running web roll which comprises a pair of rocker arms or support members l8, freely mounted upon a shaft I9, and prevented from. moving laterally on said shaft, as shown in Figure 3, by means of collars 2i fixed theron against the outer side of each arm i8. Said shaft I3 is rotatably mounted in bearings 22, provided in brackets 23, which brackets extend below and are secured to the frame structure IS. A drive is provided to rotate the shaft l9 and is shown at the right of Figure 3, and indicated generally by the numeral 23. This drive may comprise any suitable arrangement of gearing or other connection with the main machine drive shaft indicated at 33.

An endless belt 25 is guided over idler pulleys 23 which are rotatably mounted between the rocker arms l3-l3, and are driven at a speed that is slightly less than that of the running web, by means of a driven pulley 21 secured to the drive shaft 19. A belt tightening device is also provided which comprises a roller 23, carried by a shaft 29, suspended between two arms 3l-3l, which arms are fixed, to a shaft 32 upon which one of the guide pulleys 23 is mounted. One end of the shaft 32 extends beyond one of the rocker arms and has a short lever 33 fixed thereon which is biased by means of a spring 33, secured between an adjustable screw member 35, mounted at the end of the finger 33 and an extended end of a shaft 33 on which the lower belt guide pulley 23 is mounted. The pull of the spring 33 upon the lever or finger 33, will rock the shaft 32 and the arm 3| to t'nus cause the roller to be biased against the belt and thereby tighten same. Two wheels 31-31, freely mounted on the lower belt guide pulley shaft 33, are provided to prevent the belt as it passes around the lower guide pulley, from engaging the surface of the web roll.

It will be seen that as thus far described the belt 25 will be continuously driven by means of the driven pulley 21 through the drive 23 and because of its slightly slower speed will act as a drag on the web roll l3 by its frictional engagement therewith, and thereby tension the web.

A variable pressure applying means is provided to cause the belt to press against the roll in varying degree in response to changes in the tension of the running web, with the result that a practically constant normal running tension of the web may be maintained.

The means to provide for the control of the variable pressure of the belt upon the web roll comprises a lever member which is fulcrumed at a point between its ends and includes two arms 33-33 pivotally mounted on studs 39-49, and rods or rails 3 I-3 i one of which extends outward from each of said arms 33. Said studs 39-39 are each mounted within brackets 32-32 and said brackets are secured to the machine frame I5. Two links 33-33 are connected between the arms 33-33 and the belt supporting members or rocking arms l3-l3, as shown in Figure 2, by connecting their upper ends to the ends of the arms 33-33 and their lower ends to arms 33-33. Said arms 33 are secured against rotation on the opposite ends of a rod 33 which is passed through and secured against rotation to, the belt supporting members l3-i3 and extends outwardly beyond the outer sides thereof a sufficient distance to permit the arms 33 to engage the links. It will be observed from the position of the parts shown in Figure 2 that the distance between the pivotal centers of the belt supporting members 13, and the point at which the lower end of the links 33 are connected to the belt supporting members, is greater than the distance between the point at which the upper end of the said link is connected with arms 38 and their pivotal centers. This manner of connecting the belt supporting member with the means for moving same thus provides a reduction leverage which permits the use of a comparatively light operating force to be used to rock the arms 33 and belt supporting member,

The structure used to provide the force utilized for actuating the above described mechanism to rock the belt supporting members l3-l8, includes a weight or roller 33 which has grooves 31 in the periphery thereof and is adapted to roll over the rails or rods 31 extending from the arms 33-33. Associated with said roller 33, are two vertically disposed levers 33-33 which are secured to a shaft 39, rotatably supported by the brackets 23-23, and two connecting rods l-5l connect the upper ends of the levers 33-33 with the ends of the roller 33. Also associated with the levers 38-33, is a pair of arms 52-52 which are also secured to the shaft 39 and support a floating web guide roller 50 between them. Said web guide roller is arranged to run in a loop in the web, and any change in the tension of the running web will tend to raise or lower the floating roller and thus cause the shaft 39 and levers 33-43 to rock, and through the medium of the connecting rods 5l-5l, move the weight 33 along the rails 3| -3| to an extent proportional to the movement of the floating roller. Two counterweights 53-53 are mounted on rods 53-53 and the rods are fixed to the shaft 39, as shown in Figure 3, in a manner which will partially counterbalance the weight of the arms 52-52 and the floating roller 50. An adjustable spring biasing means is also provided to exert a downward pressure of the floating roller upon the web, which includes an adjustable screw member 55, supported by a bracket 53, mounted on the standard l3, and a coil spring 51 tensioned between one end of said screw and one end of an arm 53, extending downward from one lever 33. By means of a hand operated nut 59 at the outer end of the screw 55, the screw may be adjusted to place the desired spring tension upon the floating roller and web which is required for the normal operation of the printing machine.

From the foregoing it will thus be observed that any variation in the normal tension of the running web will immediately effect the floating roller and any change in the position of said roller will actuate the mechanism which is associated with the belt supporting member to vary the braking pressure of the belt on the web roll. Thus, a downward movement of the floating roller, when the tension is less than normal, will rock the shaft 39 in a counter-clockwise direction and move the roller 33 inward along the rails 3! toward the bracket 32. This will reduce the downward force of the roller 33 on the rails 3i and will permit the belt supporting arms to move downward to exert a greater braking pressure upon the web roll. If the floating roller moves upward, due to excessive tension on the running web, the operation of the controlling mechanism will be the opposite to that just described, that is, the shaft 39 will be rocked in a clockwise direction to move the roller 33 outward upon the rails. This will increase the downward force upon the rails and cause the arms 33-33 to be rocked upward to raise the links 33-33 and the belt supporting arms l3-l3, to reduce the belt pressure upon the web roll. Stop members 3l-3I are secured to the brackets 23-23 and are positioned so as to be engaged by rollers 32-32 on the floating roller supporting arms 52-52, to thus support same if a break should occur in the web.

In newspaper printing machines, provision is made to accommodate rolls of full length and fractional lengths and in order that the tension per unit of length may be maintained constant or varied as desired, the braking force must be varied proportionately. To accommodate a change from one of these rolls to another without effecting the arrangement or setting of the mechanism previously described, a compensating means is provided which can be quickly adjusted to provide the desired degree of tension. Said compensating means comprises a yoke shaped frame 63, pivotally mounted on a shaft 64, carried by a downwardly extending portion of the bracket 42, and has one end extended outward from the axis of the shaft a greater distance than the other. A screw 65 is rotatably mounted within the lower position of two inwardly projecting ears 66-66 and is adapted to be rotated by means of a hand wheel 61 secured to one end thereof. A rod 68 is mounted within the upper portion of said ears 66, and a weight 69 provided with a lower threaded opening and an upper clearance opening is adapted to fit over said screw 65 and rod 68 with the screw engaging the threaded opening and the rod engaging the clearance opening. Any rotation, therefore, of the hand wheel 61, will thus rotate the screw 65 and move the weight 69 along the rod 68. The short end of the yoked frame 63 is also connected with the belt support actuating link 43 by means of a stud H, and is therefore moved when the link is moved, there being a suitable clearance slot 12 for the stud H to pass through to permit the yoked frame to rock about its shaft 64. It will thus be observed, that by adjusting the weight along the rod 68, it will effect a greater or lesser pull on the link 43 and belt support arms l8-l8, which will thereby alter the belt pressure upon the roll accordingly.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in the other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of a web roll, a lever member fulcrumed intermediate its ends, means connecting one end of said lever with the movable support, a weight movable along the other end of said lever, a floating roller running in a loop in the web, and means connecting said floating roller with the weight, whereby said weight may be moved along the lever end in response to changes in web tension and thereby vary the pressure of the friction member upon the web roll to maintain normal running tension on the web.

2. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of a web roll, a lever member fulcrumed intermediate its ends, means connecting one end of said lever with the movable support, a movable weight on said lever,'a floating roller running in a loop in the web, apivotally mounted member to support said floating roller, and means connecting the pivotally mounted member with the movable weight, whereby upon any change in the position of said floating roller, the position of the weight will be changed on the lever and the pressure of the friction member upon the web roll will be varied accordingly to maintain normal running tension on the web.

3. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which'a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of a web roll, a lever member fulcrumed intermediate its ends, means connecting one end of said lever with the movable support, a weight movable along the other end of said lever, a floating roller running in a loop in the web. a pivotally mounted member to support said floating roller, means connecting the pivotally mounted member with the movable weight to permit said weight to be moved along the lever end to change the angular position of the lever in response to changes in the position of the floating roller, and spring'tensioning means connected to said pivotally mounted member to cause the floating roller to apply a constant pressure against the loop in the web.

4. In a web tensioning mechanism for controll ng a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of a web roll, two pivotally mounted arms, links connecting said arms to the movable support, a rail extending outward from one end of each of said arms, a weight mounted on said rails, a floating roller running in a loop in the web, and means connecting said floating roller with said weight, whereby, upon any change in the position of the floating roller, the position of the weight will be changed on the rails to thereby vary the angular position or the arms and said movable support and thus vary the pressure of said friction member on the web roll.

5. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of a web roll, two pivotally mounted arms. links connecting said arms to the movable support, a rail extending outward from one end of each of said arms, a weight mounted on said rails, a floating roller movable in response to changes in web tension, and means movable by the movement of the floating roller connected with the weight, whereby upon any change in the position of the floating roller, the position of the weight will be changed on the rails to thereby vary the angular position of the arms and said movable support, and thus vary the pressure of said friction member on the web roll.

6. In a web tensioning'mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the upper peripheral surface of a web roll, a lever member fulcrumed intermediate its ends and positioned above said movable support, means linking said movable support with one end of said lever member, a weight movable along the other end of the lever member, a floating roller running in a loop in the web, and means actuated by the movement of the floating roller to shift the position of the weight on the lever end to vary the pressure of the friction member upon the web roll in response to variations in web tension.

7. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, braking mechanism including a movable support havinga friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of a web roll, a lever member associated with said movable support, a force applying means engaging said lever member, a floating roller running in a loop in the web, means connecting said force applying means with the floating roller,'whereby a change in the position of the floating roller will cause a change in the force applied to the lever member and vary the pressure of the friction member on the web roll, and adjustable compensating means associated with the above members to adjust the operating conditions of the braking mechanism for web rolls of varying length.

8. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, braking mechanism including a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of a web roll, a lever member, a connecting member between said lever member and the movable sup port, means to rock said lever member in response to changes in the tension of the running web to thereby eifect a difference in the braking action of the friction member on the web roll, and adjustable compensating means connected with said connecting member to adjust the operating conditions of the braking mechanism for web rolls of varying length.

9. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface'of a web roll, means to move said support to vary the pressure of the member upon the web roll in response to variation in tension of the running web, including a lever member fulcrumed intermediate its ends, a reduction leverage connecting one end of said lever member with the support, a weight movable along the opposite end of said lever member, and means effected by changes in the tension of the running web to vary the position of the weight on the lever.

10. In a web tensioning mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a driven belt thereon engaging the peripheral surface of aweb roll, a lever member, a variable force applying means adapted to rock said lever member, a reduction leverage applied between said lever member and movable support, means actuated upon variation in tension of the running web to cause said force applying means to rockthe lever member and move said support and thereby vary the pressure of the driven belt upon the web roll, and an adjustable means to vary the force applying means to alter the normal operating tension of the web.

11. In a web'tensioned mechanism for controlling a web roll from which a web is being fed to a printing machine, a movable support having a friction member thereon engaging the peripheral surface of the web roll, a lever member, a reduction leverage applied between said lever member and movable support, means actuated upon variation in tension of the running web to rock the lever member and move said support and thereby vary the pressure of the friction member upon the web roll, and adjustable means to vary the action of said lever member rocking means to vary the normal pressure of the friction member upon the web roll.

12. In a web tensioning mechanism, a driven belt, a support for said belt pivotally mounted for swinging movement to press said driven belt upon the peripheral surface of a web roll, and means actuated by changes in the tension of the Web running from the web roll to vary the contact pressure of said belt on the roll, said means including a lever fulcrumed to rock, a connection between an end of said lever and said support, a variable force applying means adapted to act upon the other end of said lever to rock the same, means controlled by web tension to actuate said force applying means, and means to manually vary said force applying means.

13. In a web tensioning mechanism, a driven belt, a support for said belt pivotally mounted for swinging movement to press said belt upon the peripheral surface of a web roll, and means actuated by changes in the tension of the web running from the web roll to vary the contact pressure of said belt on the roll, said means including a lever fulcrumed to rock, a connection between an end of said lever and said support, a variable force applying means adapted to act upon the other end of said lever to rock the same, means controlled by web tension to actuate said force applying means, and adjustable means to vary the force applying means to alter the normal operating tension of the web.

14. In aweb tensioning mechanism for controlling the tension of a web running from a web roll into a machine, a swingable support having a driven belt thereon engaging the peripheral surface of the web roll, a pivot for said support, a swingable lever member, a pivot for said lever member, a connection between the lever member and the support, the effective length of the lever member from its pivot point to the connection being greater than the length of the support from its pivot point to the connection, whereby the support is swung through a smaller arc than the lever member, said connection being adapted to permit the support to swing in one direction to increase the area of engagement of said belt upon the roll, and to swing the support in another direction to decrease the belt engaging area, and means actuated upon variation in tension of the running web to rock said lever and through said connection to swing said support.

LILLIAN C. BALL,

'Administrat ria: of the Estate of Harry v. Ball,

Deceased. 

